Emergencies and disaster can come at any point of time and leave people at risk. Even if it is a natural disaster like floods, cyclones, or any man made emergency for example, industrial accidents or terrorist threats, one thing is very clear and that is timely and accurate communication when in need. It is important to inform people of any looming danger as this will help them protect themselves and will reduce harm and save lives. One of the most effective ways to convey these important messages is through color-coded warnings. IS 19063: 2024 Indian Standard BIS and ISO 22324: 2022 is an international standard, gives flawless guidelines for executing these color-coded alerts in emergency management.

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What are Colour-Coded Alerts?

Colour-coded alerts are a visual communication tool which is used to transfer the intensity of anything such as emergencies, disaster or any risk. These uses a systematic colour system to represent several types or levels of threats or urgency, by making clear to people so that they can easily understand it. The IS 19063:2024 standard, an Indian standard, offers guidelines for colour coding in public safety communications, particularly for emergency situations. It focuses on clear, consistent and easily recognizable colours for different warnings. The Bureau of Indian Standards that is BIS look after this.

The ISO 22324:2022 standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization sets global guidelines for the use of colour for emergency information. Both standards focuses to expand response times, decrease misunderstanding, and ensure safety by providing a consistent approach to the use of colour in warnings. These standards help in operative emergency management systems and ensure public safety.

Significance of Colour-Coded Alerts

Colour coded alerts perform very important character in increasing public safety during emergencies by giving people clear and immediate message or announcement. Red colour denotes quick action which means it is something very dangerous, on the other side yellow gives emphasis on caution, and preparedness for possible hazards. Green ensures safety, letting people know that no action is required. In addition to these primary colours, supplementary colours such as black, purple, blue, and grey delivers other information about the harshness or nature of the threat. The use of color-coded alerts safeguards that people, irrespective of linguistic or literacy barriers, can easily understand and respond appropriately.

Also Read: IS 18962: 2024 Sutra Neti Thread - Specification

Key Components of Colour-Coded Alerts IS 19063: 2024 ISO 22324: 2022

Key components of IS 19063: 2024 ISO 22324: 2022 include a systematic colour coding method for emergencies. This includes:

1. Colour codes for hazard status: These three basic colours form the basis of the color-coded warning system and indicate different levels of danger. In an emergency, these colours help people quickly understand the nature of the situation and the action they need to take. These are:

• Red: Danger (Take immediate action) 
• Yellow: Caution (Prepare to act) 
• Green: Safe (No action required)

2. Supplementary colour codes: These complementary colours help provide additional information about the situation and can be used in conjunction with the basic red, yellow and green codes to provide more clarity. 

• Black and purple: Used for the threat of death, indicates the seriousness of the situation where immediate action is required to prevent death.
• Blue: Used for informational purposes, not to signify a hazard. 
• Grey: Used when no information is available or when the situation is unclear.

3. Human factors and colour blindness considerations: Special attention is paid to the human factor, guaranteeing that colour codes can be recognized by people with varying degrees of colour blindness. The standard recommends using text or symbols with colour warnings to ensure that people who may have difficulty distinguishing between colours can understand the warnings.
4. Use of colour in different display formats: The standards provide guidance for effectively displaying colour codes, whether in physical signs, digital displays or audio-visual formats.
5. Ergonomic considerations: Consider how people perceive and interpret color-coded warnings, especially in high-stress environments. This includes recommendations for text size, font selection, and contrast to increase readability.

Scope of ISO 22324: 2022

The scope of ISO 22324:2022 is comprehensive, as this standard is applied to all emergencies and threats. While this standard provide guidelines, rules and regulations for colour-coding to convey about the status of hazards or threats, it does not precisely focus the physical design of warning systems, such as the ergonomic aspects of how signs and displays are constructed. It is useful for any situation where emergency management and public safety are involved, including: 

• Natural disasters: Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, etc. 
• Man-Made emergencies: Chemical spills, nuclear accidents, industrial hazards, terrorist attacks, etc. 
• Medical emergencies: Pandemic alerts, biohazard risks, mass casualty incidents, etc. 
• Technological hazards: Failures in infrastructure, cyberattacks, power outages, etc.

Also Read: BIS Sets the Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes (Quality Control) Order 2025 to Elevate Industry Standards

Benefits of Colour-Coded Alerts in Emergency Management 

The implementation of colour-coded alerts offers several benefits, both for the public and for emergency responders: 

• Quick recognition and action: Colour-coded alerts allow people to quickly recognize the level of danger and understand the necessary actions they need to take. For example, a red alert immediately signals people to take urgent action, whereas a green alert assures them that they are safe. The use of colour codes helps remove uncertainty and promotes faster response to emergencies.
• Universal understanding: The colours like green, yellow and red are most common colours and these are very familiar and people are aware even if they are from different cultures and languages. This generality makes color-coded alerts an active means of communication in different communities, especially in high-stress or messy situations where people do not have time to read or understand difficult messages.
• Reduces panic and confusion: These colour-coded alerts provide clear and direct things to the people to avoid people getting panicked. These help in reducing confusion, because with the help of colours people actually understand about the situation. Instead of being dependent on verbal messages or warnings, people actually understand on the basis of colour that is visible and reduces the chances of inappropriate actions or delays.
• Accessibility for people with disabilities: ISO 22324:2022 focuses on the needs of people with disabilities, such as people with colour blindness. By adding additional information (text, symbols, or patterns), it confirms that every person can comprehend the warning, irrespective of their capability to differentiate between specific colours.
• Effective communication for emergency workforces: The Bureau of Indian Standards Colour-coded alerts are not just for the general public but also help emergency responders to make quick decisions. By using these colours, emergency teams can undoubtedly communicate the depth of a situation to others, helping with coordination and response.
• Flexibility and customization: The system allows the use of additional colours (black, purple, blue and grey) to provide more detailed information when dealing with complex or multiple threats. This flexibility allows authorities to customize the alert system based on the specific nature of the emergency.

Conclusion

Colour-coded alerts plays very important role in emergency management by giving clear and as fast as possible information to the public for safety and security purposes. IS 19063:2024 and ISO 22324:2022 makes sure that these informations are clear, direct, easy to understand, accessible and active for all people even if anybody is disabled. By using this systematic colour system, people can rapidly identify the depth of a situation and take suitable actions. The use of primary colours like red, yellow, and green helps to communicate danger, caution, and safety, while supplementary colours offer further details. These standards not only improve public safety but also help reduce confusion and panic during emergencies. Colour-coded alerts promote faster responses, ensuring that lives are saved, and harm is minimized. Overall, they are an essential tool in managing emergencies, making communication simple and effective for everyone.